Woman killed when Iowa police officer tries to shoot her German Shepherd

A 34-year-old woman in Burlington, Iowa was shot and killed on Tuesday by an officer who was allegedly aiming for her dog during an argument, the Burlington Hawk Eye reported.

The officer, identified as Jesse Hill, shot Autumn Mae Steele in front of her husband and 4-year-old son. Steele had been arrested a day earlier on domestic abuse charges, and Hill was there to escort her as she retrieved items from her home after being released from jail on Tuesday morning.

Steele and her husband reportedly began arguing as she was putting the boy into her car. Hill was allegedly trying to break up the dispute when the couple’s German Shepherd approached him.

“The dog startled the officer. The officer began shooting at the dog,” one witness told the Hawk Eye. “The officer was still shooting when he fell down in the snow.”

Steele was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead from a gunshot to the chest.

The Associated Press reported that the state’s Department of Criminal Investigation is still interviewing witnesses in connection with the incident.

About the Author

Arturo R. García is the managing editor at Racialicious.com. He is based in San Diego, California and has written for both print and broadcast media, including contributions to GlobalComment.com, The Root and Comment Is Free. Follow him on Twitter at @ABoyNamedArt